Effect of Macro-calcification on the Failure Mechanics of Intracranial Aneurysmal Wall Tissue

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SP ISS: EXPERIMENTAL ADVANCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR BIOMECHANICS

Effect of Macro-calcification on the Failure Mechanics of Intracranial Aneurysmal Wall Tissue R.N. Fortunato 1 & A.M. Robertson 1,2 & C. Sang 1 & X. Duan 3 & S. Maiti 1,2,4 Received: 5 February 2020 / Revised: 16 July 2020 / Accepted: 5 August 2020 # Society for Experimental Mechanics 2020

Abstract Background Calcification was recently found to be present in the majority of cerebral aneurysms, though how calcification and the presence or absence of co-localized lipid pools affect failure properties is still unknown. Objective The primary objective is to quantify the biomechanical effect of a macro-calcification with surrounding NearCalcification Region (NCR) of varying mechanical properties on tissue failure behavior. Methods We utilized a structurally informed finite element model to simulate pre-failure and failure behavior of a human cerebral tissue specimen modeled as a composite containing a macro-calcification and surrounding NCR, embedded in a fiber matrix composite. Data from multiple imaging modalities was combined to quantify the collagen organization and calcification geometry. An idealized parametric model utilizing the calibrated model was used to explore the impact of NCR properties on tissue failure. Results Compared to tissue without calcification, peak stress was reduced by 82% and 49% for low modulus (representing lipid pool) and high modulus (simulating increase in calcification size) of the NCR, respectively. Failure process strongly depended on NCR properties with lipid pools blunting the onset of complete failure. When the NCR was calcified, the sample was able to sustain larger overall stress, however the failure process was abrupt with nearly simultaneous failure of the loaded fibers. Conclusions Failure of calcified vascular tissue is strongly influenced by the ultrastructure in the vicinity of the calcification. Computational modeling of failure in fibrous soft tissues can be used to understand how pathological changes impact the tissue failure process, with potentially important clinical implications. Keywords Biomechanics . Finite Element Model . Soft Tissue . Tissue failure . Structural Modeling . Experimentally Motivated

Introduction Intracranial aneurysms (IA), the pathological enlargement of the cerebral arterial wall, are present in about 3.2% of the adult population [1]. Spontaneous rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is fatal for approximately 45% of patients, while 50% of the survivors suffer from disabilities that prevent them from

* S. Maiti [email protected] 1

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

2

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

3

Intelligent Automation Group, PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

4

Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

returning to work [2, 3]. Currently, it is difficult for clinicians to confidently select aggressive and somewhat ris